“The Wilkinsburg Community gained a true treasure, when a deteriorating, old abandoned school building was renovated and became the community hub that is now Hosanna House, Inc. Operating from a true “It Takes a Village” approach, Leon Haynes was instrumental in engaging the best of the best to assist him in bringing the community’s vision to life. Through his strong leadership and collaborative nature, Leon developed mutually supportive partnerships, in order to establish a comprehensive system of vital services to meet the needs of a deserving community.”
As the founding chief executive officer of Hosanna House, in 1989, Mr. Haynes was instrumental in transforming an urban community by the renovation and development of an abandoned school building, built in 1916, in a community were crime and economic depravation existed, coordinating a partnership of several health and human service agencies under one roof. Hosanna House, a 125,000 square foot facility in an urban community, includes a gymnasium, swimming pool and auditorium. Hosanna House has over 40 full-time and 20 part-time employees. Hosanna House serves 500 children daily, over 2,500 during the summer and over 40,000 people per year through workforce development, technology training, health care, dental care, child care and after-school and in-school programming for youth.
Leon, a native of Virginia, earned a BS Degree in Industrial Technology at North Carolina A&T State University. Leon has lived in 8 states and 13 cities, and has been a resident of Pennsylvania since 1986. Leon has ten years’ experience working with Fortune 500 companies in the areas of engineering and marketing. In addition, in 2001 Leon attended Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders.
Leon mentored two organizations in South Africa where special projects have been developed (community farming projects in the bush (Zimbabwe) and housing and job training for street children (boys) (Botswana).
For the last 7 years, Leon has been developing and implementing strategies for long-term sustainability for Hosanna House, including the complete renovation of a former abandoned country club into a 14-acre development and the extension of a 2-block community revitalization plan around HHI’s main facility in the heart of Wilkinsburg.
In 2020, Leon and Hosanna House will celebrate 30 awesome years of service.
Leon is an ordained Pastor of Covenant Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Leon has had appointments from three of the last five governors in the state of Pennsylvania.
Leon is married to Annita, has three adult sons, all having attended Pittsburgh public schools, and are graduates of Pennsylvania universities.